The Path of a Shinobi (Reader x various)

Betrayal

"What do you think the old man has to talk about?" Curiously asked Kurama who was seated next to me.

I looked to my right and shrugged since it had been awhile since we last saw him.

"With the way he said it, it sounded urgent."

All ten of us quietly sat in a circle and watched as Hagoromo appeared in the center with a warm smile on his face though there was a hint of sadness dancing in his eyes.

"I don't know how each one of you will handle my next few words, but I hope for you all to understand. As you know, I am human and humans aren't immortal. There will come a time when everyone's life comes to an end."

"You're not saying...what I think you're saying right?" Hesitantly asked Kokuo which resulted in Hagoromo solemnly nodding his head.

"I won't live much longer. Shukaku, Matabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chōmei, Gyūki, Kurama, and Akako. Even if you are far apart, you will always be together. There will come a time where you will be united again. Each of you with a unique name and a different form than before. And unlike when you were inside me, you will be guided down the right path. I hope you learn what true strength is..."

"Hagoromo..." I sadly whispered and we watched on as he continued to speak, but from the corner of my eye, I could see tears beginning to brim Kurama's eyes as he was distraught by the news.

"My people have built nine temples in different regions for each one of you to go to."

'Nine? But there are ten of us here...'

"Did you forget about me?" I suddenly asked and he turned to me and shook his head.

"Of course not. I thought it would be best if you and Kurama stay together. After all, you two are alike."

I glanced over at Kurama to see him already looking at me. I lifted my paw and wiped away the tears that were in his eye and smiled.

"I'm fine with that idea."

And so the two of us stayed together at the region we were placed at and together we mourned the death of someone who nurtured us and looked up to.

~Timeskip~

"Kurama!"

Said fox turned his head over his shoulder and displayed a smile on his lips at the sight of me.

Kurama and I were no longer baby foxes but we were slowly maturing into an adult. I don't know how long had passed since Hagoromo's passing, but it felt like an eternity had passed.

I walked up next to Kurama and we laid ourselves on the luscious grass that was under a looming tree that provided us with some shade. I rested my chin on my arms and stared at the setting sun.

"I wonder how the others are doing," I sighed out and I felt Kurama nudge me.

"Hmph. They're probably fine and out doing their own thing. We don't have them with us anymore, but...I have you here," he mumbled the last few words as he turned his face away as he grew somewhat embarrassed.

I stifled a laugh and cleared my throat instead. "You're right. Even if we don't have our friends here, I'm glad you're here, Kurama." I leaned my head against his body and watched as the sky grew dark.

We stayed there under the beautiful sky, feeling the warmth of our paws holding one another as we found solace in each other.

A rustle was heard and we whipped our head to a nearby tree and jumping out from within the leaves was a tall man with tanned skin and waist length black hair. He wore dark red armor over a black suit with sandals.

Kurama and I stood on all fours as we stared at this man we had never seen.

"You two will have to come with me," he said as wood sprouted from the ground and wrapped itself around our bodies.

"What's the meaning of this?!" I shouted at him who kept his hands interlocked as Kurama and I struggled to set ourselves free.

'This guy...is nothing like Hagoromo or his disciples. Is this how other humans are like?'

"Sorry, but we need you for the stabilization of power."

"Nice try," commented Kurama who opened his mouth and a purple orb appeared and shot it towards the man who leapt away and undid the wood.

"We can't get caught. Run Akako," ushered Kurama and I shook my head not wanting to leave him behind or separate from him since there's a chance we won't find each other, but the pleading look in his eyes made me reconsider. I took a few steps back and he lightly nudged me with his head to get going and whispered, "I'll find you."

I nodded my head and as I turned around, another piece of wood appeared in front of me, but I smashed it into pieces with my tail.

"NOT SO FAST! THAT ONE IS OURS! WE MADE HER!"

The people who I had seen when I first came to this world appeared in front of me and launched some chakra infused wire that wrapped itself around my neck and entire lower body.

"GAH!" I cried out and growled at these humans for doing such a thing. I whipped a tail at them that knocked some of them back which caused a few of the wires to loosen, but they tightened back up again in an instant.

"You're not taking this one away from us!"

"It's not meant for you!"

The armored man and the group of people were solely focused on me while Kurama was out of harm's way.

I reached my paw out to him and he hesitantly stared at me with tears brimming his red eyes.

"Kuram-AGH!" The wire around my body tightened which made me glare and growl at the humans that were pulling me. Kurama opened his mouth and dug his claws into the ground with regretful filled eyes before he turned around and fled.

'He's...leaving...?'

Why would he suddenly decide to leave?

"We can't get caught."

My eyes widened as his words rang through my head. I watched his retreating figure and an unfamiliar feeling ignited inside of me. I clenched my teeth and dug my paw into the ground as tears began to fill my eyes as I continued to watch his figure disappear, leaving me to suffer with these humans.

'I....hate you...'